State Structure and Constitutional Order
The Constitution
The current Constitution was adopted in 1991 and amended several times. Article 1 defines Bulgaria as a democratic, legal, and social state with a parliamentary form of government. The Constitution establishes the separation of powers, the rule of law, and the supremacy of the Constitution. Fundamental principles include political pluralism, free elections, and the protection of human dignity.
Parliament (Narodno Sabranie)
The National Assembly is unicameral, with 240 members elected for four-year terms by proportional representation with a 4% threshold. It adopts laws, approves the budget, ratifies treaties, and can pass a vote of no confidence in the Government. A Grand National Assembly, with 400 members, can be convened for constitutional amendments on certain matters; ordinary amendments require a three-quarters majority in the ordinary National Assembly over two sittings.
President and Government
The President is directly elected for a five-year term, with a maximum of two terms, and is the head of state and commander-in-chief. The President appoints the Prime Minister on the nomination of the largest parliamentary group and dissolves Parliament in defined cases. The Council of Ministers (Government) holds executive power and is responsible to Parliament.
Judiciary
Judicial power is independent; courts include district, regional, and appellate courts, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Administrative Court, and the Constitutional Court (12 judges, appointed in thirds by Parliament, the President, and the joint bodies of the supreme courts). The Constitutional Court rules on constitutionality.
Traps and rule of thumb
Traps: confusing the 240-member National Assembly with the 400-member Grand National Assembly; thinking the President appoints the Prime Minister freely rather than on a parliamentary group's nomination; and mixing the two supreme courts' competences. Rule of thumb: remember 240 (ordinary), 400 (grand), 5 (presidential term), 12 (constitutional judges), 4% (electoral threshold).